Synergy in Arts for Youth

Education, Character, and Performance
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About Us

Synergy in Arts for Youth Inc. is a non-profit 501 (a) organization devoted to providing positive educational opportunities that promote and develop life-skills through performance arts, teamwork, and community enrichment. 

     Our History
 

Past
 

In 1996, three friends, who had been involved in band together since middle school, decided to start an independent

drumline. All had experience composing for and instructing high school drumlines and had a passion for music. After

finding the necessary funds and assembling a staff, the Florida Sun Percussion Ensemble was founded. Some very

talented young percussionists tried out for the group and very soon were working on a show to perform in local

exhibition. Florida Sun performed at venues including the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa and Disney’s Epcot

(as part of the Magic Music Days program). While starting up this ensemble, the leadership decided to team with a newly

established non-profit group attempting to start a Jr. Drum and Bugle Corps in Tampa. However, things were not meant

to be, and due to a lack of financial and infrastructure stability in the parent organization Florida Sun was dissolved after

just one year.

 

Present

 

Fast forward to late 2008; two of the three original founders of Florida Sun (William Bargeron and Aaron Nichols) still

had a desire to form a music performance organization in Tampa. We decided it was time to move forward with another

venture, one that had to encompass more than just an indoor drumline or even a just a drum and bugle corps. We

envisioned something that would truly define what it is to be an Arts Organization. That is, to be all-inclusive and

supportive of other arts organizations who exist within the same community.

 

Learning from the previous experience of the Florida Sun Percussion Ensemble as well as other organizations who have

attempted to start a Tampa based drum and bugle corps in the past, we knew that we had to have a solid

foundation that included: financial stability, the support of the local music educators, experienced instructional staff, a

strong leadership team, and mutually beneficial partnerships that will support the goals of our organization.

 

Over the past year (2009) SAY has assembled a solid leadership team (see personnel), began the development of our

Winterguard Ensemble – Synergy in Arts Independent (see ensembles), and (through a generous donation) have acquired a

complete set of Ludwig marching drums and equipment. Also, we are in the final stages of becoming an Explorer Post with the Boy Scouts of America. We are currently developing our 2010 fundraising plan and actively recruiting for leadership positions to include an experienced fundraising director. We are also keeping our eyes open for potential board members who can complement our existing board with professional, leadership, and/or arts and music experience.

 

Future

 

 SAY Five Year  Plan20102011201220132014
 Project 1 File for 501 (c)(3) status

Florida Sun Independent

Indoor Drumline 

Marching/performance arts

clinics and seminars 

 Synergy ProjectsProjects focused on at-risk youth 
Project 2

Synergy in Arts Independent

"A" Class Winterguard 

 Brass Choir Jr. Drum and Bugle Corps  

Our five year plan includes filing for 501 (c)(3) tax exempt status (2010), the continuing development of Synergy in Arts

Independent A Class Winterguard (2010-11), as well as the development of The Florida Sun Independent Indoor

Drumline (2010-11), a Brass choir (2011-12), and a Jr. Drum and Bugle Corps (2013-14) along with other community

performance ensembles. These groups will serve as vehicles to augment local music and dance education programs as

well as provide collaborative opportunities for the support of other local arts programs. We also plan to provide volunteer

opportunities for at-risk youth to gain a positive experience throughout our community.

 

We have developed a short questionnaire for local music educators that will provide valuable information regarding their needs. This will allow SAY to better serve our mission and be truly supportive of our community. When we have the infrastructure and finances in place to assist these local programs we will distribute the questionnaire and meet with any local music educators who are interested in developing a relationship with SAY.

 

When our performance groups are operational, we will pursue ways to team our marching arts and music performance

disciplines with other art disciplines to create new “synergistic” art. This could be visual and performing artists using

each other’s media for inspiration during the course of a project, which culminates in a performance piece that includes

complimenting visual elements. It could be a stage-oriented production combining elements of marching arts with more

traditional theatre. Most importantly we desire to open channels between young artists of all disciplines to explore what

can be created from that synergy.